Selective shedding mechanism for looms



April 18, 1961 A. J. HERARD, JR., EI'AL 0,

SELECTIVE SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lSl INVENTORS ARCHIBALD J. HERARD JR- CLARENCE R. KRONOFF VICTOR F. SEPAVICH @JmTM ATTORNEY FIG.

April 18, 1961 A. J. HERARD, JR, ET AL 2,980,145

SELECTIVE SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOQMS Filed July. 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 y 24 22 U INVENTORS 23/ ARCHIBALD J. HERARD JR. 33 CLARENCE R. KRONOFF 3s 39 VICTOR E\SEPAVIOH 2? April 18, 1961 A. J. HERARD, JR., ET AL 2,980,145

SELECTIVE SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 5. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS AROHIBALD 1 HERARD/OR CLARENCE R. KRONOFF VICTOR F. SEPAVIGH ATTORNEY April 18, 1961 A. J. HERARD, JR., ET AL 2,930,145

SELECTIVE SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 3, 1959 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTORS ARCHIBALD J. HERARD CLARENCE R. KRONOFF VICTOR E SEPAVICH H 47 @wJ-M ATTORNEY 7 2,980,145 SELECTIVE surname MECHANISM FOR LooMs Archibald J. Herard, Jr., Auburn, and Clarence R. Kro- 7 unit and Victor F. Sepavich, Worcester, Mass, assignors to Crompton & Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts 7 Filed July 3, 1959 Ser. No. 824,811 25 Claims. (Cl. 139-80)' This invention relates to improvements in cam shedding mechanism for shiftable harness frames utilized in looms, and it is the general object of the invention to provide simple cam means which are selectively chosen.

with a definite or limited weave whenever they are used. When it is desired to change the weave, the set of cams being employed must be replaced by another set of cams having the. proper configuration of the weave desired. For example, when a cam shedding'loom is.

to be changed from a 1/1 plain weave to a 1/3 twill Weave, it is necessary to change the set of cams for the plain weave to a set of cams that will give the twill weave. Because of the necessity of changing sets of cams to attain different weaves, the versatility of a loom, so far as the weave is concerned, is limited to -the'number 'of sets of cams supplied for each loom. Moreover, it is rather expensive to provide looms with various sets of cams in order to increase the weave versatility, and it is also quite expensiveto change from one set of cams to another set due to the time utilized in making the changeover, at which time the loom must be stopped with resultant loss in production. It is therefore an important object of the invention to increase the weave versatility of the type of loom mentioned above by greatly reducing if not eliminating the limitations and expenses associated therewith as set forth above by providing the looms with a selective cam shedding mechanism which does not require operation of harness frames on a fixed cycle and which does not require interchanging of sets of cams from one setto another vwhen it is desired to change the weave.

It is another object of the invention to provide the selective cam shedding mechanism with longitudinally slidable cam means for each harness frame and which A are selectable to have opposite longitudinal sliding movements to raise and lower the harness frames, depending upon which direction the cams are moved, or to maintain the frame in either raised or lowered position for any selected number of beats of the loom.

It is another object of the invention toprovide the selective cam shedding mechanism with a plurality of pairs of actuating means, each pair being interconnected to eachother and moving simultaneously in opposite directions, first toward each other in one direction and then away from each other in the opposite direction to cause sliding movement of the cam means when moving only in one of said directions to effect shifting of the 2,980,145 Patented Apr. 18,. 1961 the selective means to remain in either one of said two positions, the selective means being separate from the actuator means but capable of being operatively connected thereto when moved to one of said. angular positions whereupon movement of the pair of actuating means in a direction opposite each other effects sliding movement of the selective means and the cam means in the same direction from one longitudinal position to another longitudinal posit-ion to cause raising or lowering of the corresponding harness frame, depending uponwhich direction the cam means is being moved.

It is another object of the invention to provide the selective cam shedding mechanism with a pair of constantly rotating means which include conjugated, trapezoidal cams each, of which has surfaces cooperating with said actuating means effective to produce a time delay during the initial and final movement of the actuating means to prevent the latter from exerting an impact below to the selective means when the latter is initially operatively connected to the actuating means and to prevent sudden stopping of the shedding mechanism and harness frames during final movement fo the actuating means whereby shock loads are substantially reduced.

Another object of the invention is to make the trapezoidal cams with surfaces connecting the time delay surfaces to increase the velocity of the actuating means between the time delays to counteract the latter to maintain the shedding mechanism in proper time relationship with the speed of the loom, the greatest velocity being attained at the time the harness frames are crossing at a point intermediate their high and low positions to cause rapid snap-crossing of the warp threads as they pass each other at their intermediate point to form a clean shed or opening by preventing the clinging of fibers on threads to fibers on other threads due to the rapidity by which the threads are crossed. i

Another object of the invention is to provide control means including a giveway and a plurality of selectable systems of rods and levers, one system for each cam means located between and operatively connected to the patternmechanism and the selective means such that selective activation by the pattern mechanism of any one of the systems will cause the selective means associated therewith to rock angularly from one position to another position so as to enable the actuating means to be operatively connected thereto.

Still another object of the invention is to provide each of the selective means with a pair of books, one on each side of the selective means pivot, for cooperating with corresponding coacting means on each pair of corresponding actuating means effective to cause movement of the corresponding sliding cam means when either of the books is operatively connected to its corresponding coacting means.

A further object of the invention is-to provide the sliding cam means with locking features at each end thereof, the locking features at one end thereof including a cam element having high and low horizontal surfaces which cooperate with operative connections be tween the surfaces and the frames and the weight of the latter to main-tain the harness frames locked in raised or lowered position for any selected number of beats 'of the loom, and thelocking features at the other end thereof including locking fingers pivoted on the selective means to cooperate with the latching means on the actuating means to maintain the frames stationary when they are in any position between their extreme high and low positions during stoppage of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a callable cam shedding mechanism such that the cams are called at will by pattern mechanism for longitudinal sliding movement to operate the harness frames during any beat of the loom, the cams being able to remain stationary in one or another of two longitudinal positions for any selected number of beats of the loom to maintain the harness frames raised or lowered depending upon which longitudinal position the cams occupy when called upon to remain stationary during loom operation.

A further object of the invention is to make the shedding mechanism as a unit for easy bench assembly and wherein the greater part of the shedding mechanism is enclosed in a casing containing a lubricant and the only parts outside of the casing are those that are operatively connected to the harness frames and operatively connected to the pattern mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to utilize one of the actuating means to operate a pump to effect lubrication of various parts of the shedding mechanism enclosed in the casing.

A still further object of the invention is to facilitate the manufacture and the assembly of the sliding cam means by making the latter in two parts which are locked together to form a rigid member but which can easily be unlocked and separated if necessary for whatever reasons.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example the embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of part of a loom having the invention applied thereto, certain of the parts being broken away, and certain of the parts being in section for the sake of clarity,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the lower left-hand part of Fig. 1 showing the parts that are enclosed in the casing, certain of the parts being in section,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the pattern mechanism looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4, Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5-5, Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6, Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7-7, Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 88, Fig. 2,

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section on line 9-9, Fig. 1,

Fig. 10 is an operational View showing a pair of actu ators just at the moment they have reached their extreme inward position,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the relationship between end end of a selective means and the coacting means on one of the actuator means when the latter has just reached its inward position at which time the selective means has completed its angular motion if so called for by the pattern mechanism,

Fig. 12 is an operational view showing the actuators having their coating means in contact with the chosen selective means, the actuating means having been moved slightly away from each other by the constantly rotating means,

Fig. 13 is an operational view showing the pair of actuator means in their outward position after having longitudinally moved the chosen selective means to effect raising or lowering of the corresponding harness frame,

Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of -a portion of Fig. 1 showing cam elements on the sliding cam means and the operative connections which cooperate with the cam elements to raise and lower the harness frames,

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic plan view of the drive for the selective cam shedding mechanism,

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary front elevational view showing how the two parts of the sliding cam means are locked to each other, and

Fig. 17 is a front elevational view showing a conjugal trapezoidal cam unit and the relationship of the surface of one cam with respect to the surfaces of the other cam.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, right and left-hand loornsides 1 and 2 respectively are connected by longitudinal beams 3, 4 and 5 to form a rigid framework generally designated at 6 to support harness frames 7, 8, 9 and 10 for independent vertical sliding movement in right and left-hand guides 13 and 14 respectively supported by guide brackets 15 and 16 respectively attached to the loomsides 1 and 2 respectively in any approved manner, as by bolts 17. A shaft 18, driven by the loom motor (not shown) operates to turn a suitably supported jack shaft 19, see Fig. 15, by Way of a pair of bevel gears 20 and 21, bevel gear 20 being attached to shaft 18 and bevel gear 21 being fixed to jack shaft 19. A sprocket 22 fast on shaft 19 transmits constant clockwise rotation to a cross shaft 23 as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of a chain '24 trained around sprocket 22 and a sprocket 25 fixed to cross shaft 23, tthe latter being suitably journaled on a casing 26 for a selective cam shedding mechanism generally designated by numeral 27. A second sprocket 28 on jack shaft 19, see Figs. 1 and 1S, meshes with a chain 29 leading to and trained around a sprocket 30 on a shaft 31 forming part of the pattern mechanism to be described hereinafter. It is to be understood that although only four harnesses are illustrated herein, the invention is not thusly limited and that more or less harnesses may be utilized and operated by the selective V cam shedding mechanism to be fully described hereinafter.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the selective cam shedding mechanism 27 includes shaft 23 which mounts thereon a plurality of conjugate trapezoidal cam units generally designated at 32 and 33 which rotate constantly during loom operation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 to simultaneously rockably reciprocate a plurality of pairs of actuating means, each pair being interconnected and designated generally by numeral-s 34 and 35, there being a pair of actuating means for each cam unit. 'The cam units 32 and 33 are brazed to individual hubs 36 and 37 respectively, each unit being identical and having front and rear cam plates 38 and 39 respectively. The cam plates 38 and 39 are provided with arcuate slots 40 disposed angularly with respect to each other, see Fig. 2, and equidistant from the axis of shaft 23, the slots in one cam unit being substantially in alignment with the corresponding slots in the other cam unit. Bolts 41 pass through slots 40 to hold the cam units fixed with respect to each other and to right and left-hand collars 42 and 43 respectively, Fig. 8, which are keyed respectively as at 44 and 55 to shaft 23. A spacer 46 positions the cam uni-ts laterally along shaft 23. The slot and bolt arrangement provides for angular adjustment of the cam units with respect to each other to vary the time in which the harnesses cross each other at mid-position thereof as will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

The con-figuration of the periphery of cam plate 38 of unit 32 with respect to the axis of shaft 23 includes rising surfaces a, b, and c and a declining or returning surface 1' located respectively between dotted radial lines A and B, B and C, C and D and D and A, see Fig. 17. Cam plate 39 has a corresponding configuration but in the reverse order and includes declining surfaces a, b and c and a rising or returning surface r located respectively between dot and dash radial lines A and B, B and C, C and D, D and A. Each cam unit is respectively operatively connected by rolls 47 and 48 to its corresponding actuator 34- on which the rolls are rotatably mounted on pins 49 and 50 respectively. Since cam unit 33 is the same in structure and operation as cam unit 32 and is operatively connected to a pair of actuating means in the same manner as is unit 32, it is believed unnecessary to struc- '5 turally describe unit 33 and its corresponding pair of actuator means herein and it is deemed suflicientto state that each cam unit will rotate together to positively reciprocate its corresponding actuating means so that they move simultaneously.

Actuator means 34 is pivoted on a stud 51 properly journaled in front and rear bearings 52 and 53 on upstanding front and rear supports 54 and 55 respectively, both of which are held rigidly to casing 26 by bolts 56 only one of which is shown in Fig. 2. Actuating means 34 has a pair of laterally spaced upright arms 57 and -8 and a pair of depending arms 59 and 60, the upright arms having mounted therebetween the roll 48 supported by-the I pin 50 while the lower arms 59 and 60 mount therebetween the roll 47 on the pin 49. Rolls 47 and 48 respectively continuously engage the cams 38- and 39 whereby motion is imparted to actuator means 34 to move upright arms 47 and 48 inwardly toward the center of the loom and outwardly in the opposite direction as the cams rotate constantly during loom operation. A third pair of arms 61 and 62 forming part of actuator 34 is connected to the actuating means 35 by a link 63 such that when the actuating means 34 moves inwardly the actuating means 35 will move outwardly, and vice versa. Actuating means 35 is mounted on a stud 51 and is similar in construction to actuating means 34 in that actuating means 35 includes a pair of upright arms 64 and 65 and a pair of substantially horizontal arms 66 and 67 to which link 63 is connected. Arms 57 and 58 support a laterally extending pin 66 therebetween at at the upper part thereof and arms 64 and 65 support a similar pin 67. Pins 66 and 67 may be considered at latching means for coacting hook means yet to be described. It will be noted that actuator means 34 and 35 are aligned and disposed longitudinally with respect to each other, see Figs. 2 and 8, and are duplicated by a rear pair of actuating means designated by the same numerals 34 and 35 which are similarly constructed with respect to forward actuator means 34 and 35, and it is deemed unnecessary here to explain rear actuator means 34 and 35 and in the operation thereof since they are constructed and operate in a manner quite similar to forward actuators 34 and 35. The actuators normally have a nonworking stroke in two directions, toward and away from each other, but are capable of having a working stroke when moving in one of said directions only.

Also, it will be noted that the rear and front pair of actuating means may be positioned along cross shaft 23 to increase the harness frame capacity of the loom by simply providing a spacer between the rear and front pairs of actuating means longer than spacer '46 shown in Fig. 8, providing the proper length of bolts 41 and providingjkey slots at the points along the shaft 13 where the actuating means are to be located. Pins 66 and 67 can easily be extended to reach from the front pair of, actuating means to the rear pair for whatever harness frame capacity is desired.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, a plurality of two-part cam members or levers normally at rest generally designated at 68 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on a walled stand 69 and a pair of guide pins 70 and'71, see Fig. 2, the stand being held fast to the girts 4 and the pins being held fixed to supports 54 and 55. As viewed in Figs. 1 and 9, the right-hand end of each cam member 68 mounts thereon a cam element 72 and on the left end, thereof mounts a horizontal lever 73 movable with its corresponding cam member 68 when the latter is'moved longitudinally. Each cam element 72 comprises a thin, flat plate, see Fig. 14, having a pair of low surfaces 74 and 75 and a high surface 76 having a pair of ends from each of which a divergent straight surface 77 and 78 respectively extends to join to surfaces 74 and 75 respectively. Each cam element is attached to its corresponding cam member in' any convenient manner as by bolts, not shown herein.

'4, see Fig. 1. An arm 82 forming part of lever 79 is connected to the lower end of a rod 83, the upper end of which is connected as at 84 toa harness frame. Each lever 79 has a'pair of arms 84 and 85 angularly displaced with respect to each other which respectively supports rolls 86.

and 87 for coaction with the surfaces of cam 72. Lever 79 has a fourth arm 88' to which the left end of a link 89 is attached, see Figs. 1 and 14. The other end of link 89 is pivotally attached to an arm 90 of a two-arm lever 91. The second arm 92 is connected to a rod 93 similar in construction to rod 83. Both levers 79 and 91 are provided with perforations 94 and 95 respectively to provide for adjustment or rods '83 and 93 along the arms 82 and 92 respectively. Rods 83 and 92 are provided with adjustment means as at 96 and 97 respectively to lengthen or shorten the rods to vary the vertical position of the harness frame. Each lever 79, link 89 and lever 91 are so correlated as to raise and lower their corresponding harness frame in a manner to prevent longitudinal tilting thereof.

Figs. 1, 3 and 4 show a pattern mechanism used in conjunction with the present invention and generally indicated by the numeral 98. This mechanism includes the previously mentioned shaft 31 and sprocket30 which is driven by the chain 29 via sprocket 28 on shaft 19. Shaft 31 rotates in front and rear bearings 99 and 160 respectively on stand 101 fixed to the loomside 2. Shaft 31 supports the usual chain sprockets 103 which receive a pattern chain generally indicated at 104, the latter being moved progressively around the axis of shaft 31 during loom operation to place a high roll 105 or a low roll 1% which effects raising and lowering respectively of chain levers 107. The rolls 105 and 106 and levers 1117 operate in usual manner and it is believed sufficient to state here that the chain is assembled accordingto pattern weave desired, as is customary, and whenever movement of the chain occurs during loom operation, the rolls will act to raise or lower levers 107 about pivot 108 to effect a change in the angular position of levers 73 asset forth hereinbelow. An angularly adjustable eccentric rod 109 is provided to vary the throw of levers Each lever 107 has connected thereto as at 110 a depending rod 111 the lower end of which is pivotally attached as at -112 to a lever 1-13 pivotally mounted on a stud 114 suitably journaled in stands 115 fixed to the top of the casing 2 6 as at 116. Each lever 113 includes a pair of horizontally spaced arms which mount a pin 117 around which a giveway rod generally'indicated at 118 has the upper end thereof trained around pin 117. The lower end of each rod 118 is pivotally connected to a lever 73 as at 119, the levers 73 being considered as selectable means for the cam elements 72. Rod 118 has a core 120 at the lower end of which is fixed a sliding block 121 normally held in low position in a tubular member 122 by a compression spring 123 the upper end of which engages plug 124 held fast to tubular member 122 which forms part of the rod 118. The lower end "of tube 122 is closed by a plug 125 from which a rod 126 depends, the lower end' of which is connected to lever 73 as at 119. Core 120; extends through plug 124 and partially surrounds pin 117 to form a pivotal connection therewith. A horizontally extending arm 1-27 forming part of core 120 has attached thereto a spring '128 which is anchored at its lower end as at 129 to the top of casing 26. Each lever 107, rod 111, lever 113, rod 118 and rod 126 associated with its corresponding horizontal lever 73 may be considered as a select- .able system of rods and levers and designated as control means controlled by thepattern mechanism. j

Each lever 73 is formed with depending bearing portions 139a pivotally connected as at 138 to one of the cam members 68. Lever 73 has right and left horizontal arms 131 and 132 respectively on each side of pivot 130 and includes a pair of laterally spaced plates 133 and 134, see Figs. 2, 6 and 7, between which the lower end of rod 126 is supported by the pivots 119. Each plate 133 and 134- is formed between the ends thereof with left and right hooks 135 and 136 respectively having concave surfaces which face each other, the hooks on plate 133 being in lateral alignment with corresponding hooks on plate 134. Hooks 13-5 and 136 selectively cooperate with the previously, described pins 66 and 67 respectively, the hooks being considered as coacting hook means for the pins and are normally out of the path of movement of said pins. Hooks 135 are on one side of bearing portion 130a and cooperate with their corresponding pin 66 and hooks 136 are on the opposite side of portion 138a for cooperation with their corresponding pins 67. Plates 133 and 134 are provided respectively with left and right spacers 137 and 138 held in any approved manner therebetween and adjacent the hooks 135 and 136, the spacers being provided with hook portions 139 and 141) respectively which have the same configuration of hooks 135 and 136 and which are congruent therewith. Spacing pins 141 coact with spacers 137 and 138 to maintain plates 133 and 134 in spaced relationship with respect to each other. Levers 73 are guidingly maintained against lateral movement by the lateral space defined by previously described upright arms 57 and 58.

Each lever 73 is provided with a pair of right and left locking fingers 142 and 143, one at each end of said lever between the spaced plates 133 and 134 and pivotally mounted as at 144. Each locking finger has a hook part 145 with which hooks 135 and 136 respectively form left and right openings 146 and 147, see Figs. 2, 7 and 11, to respectively temporarily receive pins 66 and 67 when the levers 73 are rocked angularly by giveway rods 118. The fingers 142 and 143 respectively overlie spacers 137 and 136 as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 11 and are provided with undercam surfaces 148 and 149 respectively to engage corresponding pins 153 on supports 54 and 55. The locking fingers 142 and 114 3.net to maintain plates 134 and 135 in spaced relationship similarly as do spacers 137 and 138. Pins 1'41 and pivots 144 assure that plates 134 and 135 will move simultaneously. The hooks 135 and 136 cooperate with their corresponding hook part to establish a locked latching relationship with the actuators 34 and 35 respectively.

Referring again to cam members 68, each has a righthand part 151 and a left-hand part 152, see Figs. 1, 2 and 16, for ease in manufacture and assembly. The righthand end of part 151 supports the previously described cam element 72 and the left-hand end supports a locking block 153 on a stud 154 fixed to part 151, the latter being made with two spaced levers 155 and 156. Locking block 153 fits into a circular socket 157 in a head 158 at the right-hand end of part 152. As can readily be seen in Fig. 16 the longitudinal diameter of block 153 is greater than the vertical height thereof defined by upper and lower flat surfaces 159 and 160. Pocket 157 has a pair of edges 161 to define an exit for block 153. A lift bar 164 has its left end attached to block 153 and its right end lying free between levers 155 and 156. Resilient means in the form of a lock spring 165 is fixed to the underside of lift bar 164 and has a curved tail 66 which is normally in a notch 167 to maintain parts 151 and 152 rigidly locked with respect to each other to form cam member 68. To unlock and separate parts 151 and 152, bar 164 is swung to the dotted line position, Fig. 16, to place surfaces 159 and 1 6i) vertically after which upward movement of bar 164 in the direction of the arrow will cause surfaces 159 and 160* to pass between edges 161 to effect said separation. The left-hand end of part 152 is provided with a pair of slots 169 and '17t1which fit guide pins 76 and 71 respectively, the rods 70 and 71 and stand 69 being the means to mount the cam members 68 for longitudinal sliding therealong. The left-hand end of each part 151 has a bearing 173, see Fig. 7, to fit between plates 133 and 134 and to receive stud 130.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the lower part of casing 26 contains a lubricant 174 in which the periphery of cams 32 and rolls 47 rotate. Arm 61 is connected to a plunger 175 to reciprocate the latter to cause a piston (not shown) within pump 176 to force the lubricant through a pipe line 177 to emit the lubricant as at 178 to lubricate pivots 117 after which the lubricant seeps down through holes 179 in the top of the casing to fall upon the mechanism located therebelow. Casing 26 is provided with a cover 180 and housing 181, the casing and housing containing the greater part of the selective cam shedding mechanism forming part of the present invention.

During loom operation bottom shaft 18 will make one revolution for two beats of the loom as is usual to cause complete rotation of jack shaft 19 in the same time through equal bevels 2t) and 21. Shaft 23 will make one revolution for each beat of the loom because of the 2 to 1 ratio between chain sprockets 22 and 25, see Fig. 15. The constantly rotating means 32 and 33 will therefore make one complete revolution for each beat of the loom and during this revolution the actuating means 34 and 35 will first move simultaneously in opposite directions toward each other to the position shown in Fig. 10 and then in opposite directions away from each other to the position shown in Fig. 13. The movement of actuating means 34 and 35 is constantly in reciprocation, that is, there is no dwell period provided for the cams. When the actuator means are as shown in Fig. 10 the pattern chain levers 197 will be either raised or lowered according to the pattern chain 164 to efiiect rocking of the levers 73 clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. Also, certain of the levers 167 may be selected to remain stationary and maintain the same position they had from their previous indication by the pattern chain to prevent rocking of their associated lever 73. The actuator means when moving toward each other will always have a nonworking stroke and when moving away fromeach other will have a working stroke or a nonworking stroke depending upon whether a lever 73 has been or has not been rocked. For example, in Fig. 10 unless one of the levers 7 3 is rocked, movement of the actuator means 34 and 35 away from each other will not effect movement of levers 73 and their corresponding harnesses.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 4 and 15 that the pattern shaft 31 by the ratio of the sprockets 28 and 30 will move the sprocket 103 one-sixth of a revolution for each beat of the loom to place a roll or a sinker beneath levers 107 to cause lifting or nonlifting, depending upon which roll is placed beneath the levers 107. When the actuating means 34 and 35 are in the position as shown in Fig. 10 or just as they reach that position a selected lever 73 will be given a rocking movement to place openings 146 and 147, see Fig, 11, over pins 66 and 67 respectively, after which the actuating means 34 and 35 have a movement away from each other to cause longitudinal movement of selected lever 73 either from left to right or vice versa, depending upon which lever has been operatively connected to the actuating means. Rotation of the earns 38 and 39 will cause the actuating means via rolls 47 and 48 to first move away from each other with a delayed time action because of surfaces (1 and a so that pins 66 and 67 respectively pick up the hooks 135 and 136 smoothly and easily when the pins move from the position in Fig. 10 to Fig. 11 after which continued rotation of the cams will, because of surfaces b and b, accelerate movement of the actuating means away from each other to effect rapid movement of the lever 73 from leftto right or vice versa. When rolls 47 and 48 are engaged respectively 'by surfaces and c' the actuating means will be delayed to prevent sudden stopping thereof.

Levers 73, as stated above, are pivotally mounted to the cam members 68 and when these levers 73 have their longitudinal movement the cam members 68 will also be moved longitudinally in the direction that the levers 73 are moved, the effect of which is to cause the cam elements 72 to move to the left or right according to the selection of levers 73 to cause actuation of the harness connections to effect positive raising or lowering of the harness frames. When each cam element72 moves in one direction its divergent surfaces 77 and 78 will act respectively as a decline and an incline to eifect raising of the harness frame associated therewith and when each cam element is moving in the opposite direction, surfaces 77 and 78 will act in reverse order to effect lowering of the frame.

In the event that levers 73 are not rocked when the actuating means are in the position shown in Fig. the cam member 68 will not be moved longitudinally with the result that the cam elements 72 will maintain the harness frames locked in raised or lowered position for any number of selective beats of the loom. The harness frames may be raised or lowered each beat of the loom or may remain in dwell position for as long as desired by reason of angular movement or nonangular movement respectively of levers 73. Pins 66 and 67 will normally reciprocate in a path to avoid moving levers 73 until the latter is rocked from one angular position to another. When a lever 73 is rocked to one angular posi tion by lever 118 it will return to its original position by spring 128 provided the pattern chain so designates by a low roll. During reciprocation of actuating means 34 and 35 oil pump 176 will transmit oil through pipe line 177 to cause the lubricant to emit oil from mouth 178 of the pipe line, pumping action being accomplished by arms 61 and 62 and connector 175 when actuating means 34 moves to the right, see Fig. 2. When levers 73 are rocked to coact with pin 66 or 67 locking finger 142 will partially encircle the pins to effect a holding relationship between lever 73 and the pins. As the actuating means moves to their final out position as shown in Fig. 13 surface 148 on finger 142 will engage pins 150 to cause unlocking of lever '73 from the pins 66 and 67. These locking fingers are maintained by pins 150 in high position as shown in Fig. 10 after which they are permitted to fall to locking position by their own weight whenever a lever 73 is rocked as can be seen in .Fig. 11. The purpose of locking fingers is to maintain the harness frames locked in any of their positions between their high and low positions during stoppage of the loom, that is, if the loom is stopped while rolls 86 and 87 are on the incline surfaces 77 and 78 of the cam members 72 the harness frames will not drop to their low position because of the weight of the frames if the loom is stopped when the rolls are on the inclines 77 and 78 of the cam elements. Low surfaces 74 and 75 and high surface 76 on the cam elements also coact with the rolls 86 and 87 and the weight of the harness to maintain thelatter locked in either high or low position. i I

It will be noted in Fig. 17 that the rotating cam means have continual rising surfaces a, b and c on cam plate 38 to cooperate with roll 47 while cam plate 39 has opposite or declining continual surfaces a, b and c to cooperate with roll 48 to cause reciprocation of the actuating means away from each other for a working stroke. The cam plates 38 and 39 are also provided respectively with return surfacesr and r' which effect opposite movement of the actuating means for a nonworking or return stroke. Surfaces a and a effect easy pick-up of the levers 73 because of the time delay mentioned above, While surfaces c and c effect slowing of movement of the harnesses at the end of their rise or drop to avoid sudden stopping, thus preventing transmission of shock loads to the harness frames and the shedding mechanism. Surfaces b and b respectively between surfaces a and c and a and c accelerate the actuating means to such an extent that the harness frames in their midposition will be crossing at a rate faster than that rate given by surfaces a and c and a, c. In this way the harnesses cause a quick snap-crossing or passing of the warp threads by each other to prevent the fibers thereof from sticking to each other. This rapid crossing of the warp threads provides a clean shed opening for the passage therethrough of a shuttle.

Also, to facilitate the passing of the warp threads by each other,.the cam units 32 and 33 may be adjusted angularly with respect to each other by reason of slots 46 and bolts 41 to form a so-called split shed by staggering the crossing of the harness frames as they pass their mid-position in such manner as to prevent all the moving frames from reaching mid-position all at once.

From the foregoing it will be seen that simple means have been provided to positively raise or lower the harnesses on any selected beat of the. loom and to dwell the harnesses in raised or lowered position for any selected numberbf beats of the loom. Moreover, it will be seen that the invention provides a selective cam shedding mechanism whereby cam elements may be selectively chosen by selectable means under patterncontrol to raise or lower the harness frames and to maintain the latter in raised or lowered position, means also being provided to lock the harness frames when between their high and low positions when the loom is stopped. Also, it will be seen that the selectable means are picked up by the actuating means easily and without impact after which the selectable means are accelerated and then slowed down to avoid sudden shock loads on the mechanism and the harness frames. Further it will be seen that the two-part cam members are provided with looking features which maintain the two parts rigidly connected but permit easy separation thereof for removal with respect to each other. The present invention also provides mounts for the selective shedding mechanism whereby the greater part of the mechanism is within a casing forming a unit which can be readily removed or applied to a loom. Provision is also made to lubricate the parts in the casing by providing the latter with a lubricant which is pumped to the various parts by actuating means 34. It will be noted that the selective cam shedding mechanism may be used to weave various types of fabrics without any change in the mechanism, it only being necessary to supply the proper chain for whatever weave is desired after which the cam elements will operate to raise or lower the harnesses according to the pattern required. Further, simplemeans have been provided to angularly adjust the trapezoidal cam units with respect to each other to form a split shed, the units also being adjusted laterally with respect to each other to be able to operate with the desired harness frame capacity.

We claim:

1. In a selective shedding mechanism for a loom having a plurality of independently shiftable harness frames and a pattern mechanism, a plurality of pairs of actuating means having a working and a nonworking stroke, each pair being interconnected to each other to move simultaneously in opposite directions, and each means of said pair moving in one direction toward each other and then away from each other in the opposite direction, ;a plurality of sliding means each of which is operatively connected to a harness frame and selectively chosen by said pattern mechanism to positively raise or lower its corresponding harness frame depending upon which direction said sliding means moves when having a sliding movement and each of which is capable of maintaining its corresponding harness frame in raised or lowered position for any number of selected beats of the loom, selectable means for each of said sliding means under control of said pattern mechanism and normally in a nonoperative position but rockably mounted on its corresponding sliding means for angular movement thereon in opposite directions to operative positions, latching means on each of said means of a pair of actuating means normally reciprocating in a path to avoid moving said selectable means but engageable therewith to move the latter when rocked to said operative positions, a pair of coacting hook means for said latching means on each of said selectable means and normally out of the path of said latching means, one coacting hook means for each latching means capable of being operatively connected to the corresponding latching means to effect bodily movement of said selectable means to cause longitudinal movement of said sliding means when said pair of actuating means moves away from each other in said opposite directions but incapable of causing said longitudinal movement of said sliding means when said pair of actuating means is moving in said one direction toward each other, giveway means controlled by said pattern mechanism operatively interposed between the latter and each of said selectable means to efiect angular movement of said selectable means in one of said opposite directions to cause one or the other of said coacting means to be positioned for coaction with its corresponding latching means whereby selection of said sliding means is effected for sliding movement to raise or lower its corresponding harness frame, depending upon which direction said selectable means is rocked and bodily moved, and constantly rotating means each of which is provided with a pair of surfaces always operatively connected to one of the actuating means of each pair of actuating means to cause said each pair of actuating means to move simultaneously in said opposite directions to effect movement of said latching means in said path.

2. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said pairs of actuating means includes a pair of levers each of which has an independent mounting therefor for angular reciprocating movement thereon, the levers being operatively connected to each other by a link such that movement of one of said levers in one direction causes simultaneous movement of the other lever in the opposite direction.

3. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said pairs of actuating means includes a pair of pivotally mounted levers aligned and disposed longitudinally with respect to each other, each lever comprising a pair of laterally spaced upright arms fixed with respect to each other, at least one of said pairs of arms being capable of guidingly maintaining therebetween a plurality of said sliding and selectable means in register with the space pro vided by said upright arms of both of said levers to prevent lateral movement of said sliding and selectable means during operation of said mechanism and when the latter is stationary during loom stoppage.

4. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 Wherein one of said means of each pair of actuating means has a pair of rolls pivotally mounted thereon for continuous engagement with said constantly rotating means and bodily movable thereby to transmit reciprocating movement continuously to said pair of actuator means in opposite directions during loom operation.

5. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said sliding means includes a substantially horizontally disposed two-part lever which is provided with a pair of elongated slots near one end thereof to receive guide pins therein for cooperation with said slots to guide said levers during longitudinal reciprocating movement thereof, said one end also being provided with a bearing to pivotally support one of said selectable means and the other end being provided with a cam element effective to positively raise and lower its corresponding frame depending upon which direction said lever is moved.

6. The two-part lever set forth in claim 5 wherein one part has a head and a circular socket therein having an open end narrower than the diameter of the socket and the other part has a locking block pivotally mounted at one end of said other part to fit said circular socket in a manner to effect locking of the two parts rigidly together when said block is disposed horizontally in said socket, said block having upper and lower horizontal surfaces to define a vertical height slightly less than the width of said open end and having one end of a lift bar attached to said upper surface for manual angular movement of said block to place said upper and lower surfaces and consequently said block in a vertical position whereupon upward manual movement of said block will cause the latter to pass through said open end to effect separation of said two parts, the lift bar being provided with resilient means to engage said head in a manner to maintain said block locked horizontally in said socket but disengageable from said head when said bar has said manual angular movement.

7. The cam element set forth in claim 5 wherein said element is a substantially thin, flat plate having an upper and a pair of lower flat horizontal surfaces vertically spaced for said other end, the upper surface having a pair of ends from each of which a straight surface extends downwardly divergent with respect to the other downwardly extending surface to join one of said lower surfaces.

8. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said selectable means comprises a horizontal lever to include a pair of laterally spaced plate members having spacers fastened therebetween and having depending portions to form bearings for pivotal mounting on one of said sliding means, each of said plate members having a pair of concave surfaces facing each other and in lateral alignment with corresponding concave surfaces on the other plate member, each of said surfaces being between the bearing and the ends of said plate member and forming hooks for coaction with said latching means on said actuating means, said spacers being adjacent said hooks and being formed with curved surfaces congruent with said concave surfaces on said plate members.

9. The mechanism set forth in claim 8 wherein said latching means is a laterally extending horizontal cylindrical pin mounted on the upper part of each of said pairs of actuating means, there being one pin for coaction with said hooks on one side of said bearing and another pin for coaction with said hooks on the opposite side of the bearing.

10. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means is a system of interconnected levers and rods for each of said selectable means to operatively connect the latter to said pattern mechanism which causes actuation of said system, one of said rods including a tube open at its upper end and closed at its lower end by the upper part of a connector having its lower end pivotally connected to its corresponding selectable means, said tube having a core with a head at one end thereof within said tube, the other end of said core extending through the opening at the upper end of said tube and being connected to one of said levers which in turn is operatively connected to the lower end of a depending rod having its upper end operatively connected to said pattern mechanism, and a spring interposed between said tube and said head to absorb any excess motion of said system when the latter is activated by said pattern mechanism.

11. The system set forth in claim 10 wherein .resilient means in the form of a compression spring compresses part of said system and has one end thereof attached to one end of said core and the other end stationarily anchored and acts to exert a force to move said system when permitted to do so by said pattern mechanism.

12. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotating means are a pair of conjugal trapezoidal cam units'each of which is operatively connected to a pair of actuating means to effect continuous reciprocation thereof during loom operation, each unit said actuating means and to prevent sudden stopping of said shedding mechanism during final movement of said actuating means on said working stroke whereby shock loads are substantially reduced, thesaid rising and falling surfaces being joined respectively by other similar surfaces which act to increase the velocity of said pair of actuating means between said time delays to counteract,

the latter to maintain said shedding mechanism in proper time relationship with the speed of the loom and which act also to effect a rapid crossing of said frames with respect to each other when they are substantially intermediate their high and low positions to cause a snapcrossing of the warp threads by each other to prevent the fibers of threads in a harness frame clinging to the fibers of threads in other harness frames.

13. The units set forth in claim 12 wherein both cams of each unit are provided with areturn surface to effect a nonworking stroke of said pair of actuating means. 7

14. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 12 wherein said constantly rotating means includes'a plurality of cam units interconnected to each other by fastening means extending through slots in said units and capable of maintaining said units fixed with respect to each other for simultaneous rotation thereof and also capable of permitting angular adjustment of 'said units with respect to each other to vary the time of crossing of said harness frames with respect to each other.

15. In a selective shedding mechanism for a loom having a plurality of independently shiftable harness frames, a pair of oppositely moving actuators normally having a nonworking stroke in two directions, toward and away from each other, but capable of having a working stroke when moving in one of said directions only, a cam member including a lever having guide slots therein and operatively connected to each harness frame and selectable to raise, lower and maintain its corresponding frame raised or lowered for any selected number of beats of the loom, means mounting the cam members for sliding movement including a set of glide pins for said slots, a lever pivotally'connected to each cam member at one end thereof, a pair of hooks on each lever between the ends therefor o'ne hook for engagement with one of the actuators and the other hook for engagement with the other actuator, and pattern controlled giveway means to effect rocking of the levers to cause their hooks to be actuated by one or the otherof said actuators.

16. In a selective shedding mechanism for a loom having a pattem mechanism and a plurality of harness frames independently shiftable from a high to a low position and vice versa during each beat of the loom, a cam member for each harness frame capable of having longitudinal sliding movement in one direction during a beat of the loom to raise said harness frame and capable of movement in the opposite direction of lower said frame during another beat of the loom, connecting means pivotally mounted between said each harness frame and said member and operatively connected thereto and rocked by the latter to raise said frame when said member moves in said one direction and to lower said frame when said member moves in said opposite direction, a pair of oppositely reciprocating actuators each of which moves in one direction toward the other and then in the opposite direction away from the other, the actuators being separate from but capable of being operatively connected/to said cam member when moving in said opposite direction away from the other to effect said longitudinal sliding movements on any selected beat of the loom, selectable means under control of the pattern mechanism and between said actuators and said cam member separate from said actuators but being selectively operatively connected to either of said actuators by said pattern mechanism for said longitudinal sliding movement to effect raising or lowering of its corresponding harness frame by one or the other of said actuators depending upon which actuator is operatively connected to said selectable means, and means on said cam member cooperating with said connecting means to maintain said corresponding harness frame in either up or down position for any chosen number of beats of the loom when said selectable means are selected to remain separate from said actuators.

17. The selective shedding mechanism set forth in claim 16 wherein said cam member includes a flat vertically disposed cam plate having a high flat surface and a pair of low flat surfaces each of which is connected to said high surface by a sloping surface one of which acts as a rise and the other as a decline when said cam member is moved in said one direction to raise its corresponding harness frame, said one surface and said other surface acting conversely respectively as a decline and a rise when said cam member movesin said opposite direction to lower said corresponding frame, and wherein said connecting means includes a pair of rolls on a pivoted lever and so related with respect to the pivot and to each other such that when one of said rolls is on one of said low surfaces the other roll will be on said high surface and when said one of rolls is moving in one direction along one of said sloping surfaces due to said longitudinal sliding movement of said cam member, said other roll will be moving in the opposite direction to effect positive raising or lowering of said frame depending upon which direction said cam member is slidingly moving.

18. The selective shedding mechanism set forth in claim 17 wherein the weight of said harness frame transmits a downward force through said pivoted lever and said rolls to said cam plate and cooperates with the latter in a manner to elfect a locking relationship therebetween when either of said rolls is on one of said low surfaces and the other roll is on said high surface to maintain said cam member and said frame stationary when the latter is either in its raised or lowered position and until said cam member has been selected to have said longitudinal sliding movement.

19. In a selective shedding mechanism for a loom having a plurality of independently shiftable harness frames and an indicating mechanism, 'a pair of interconnected rocking levers having a movement toward and away from each other in opposite directions to effect shifting'ofsaid frames only when moving away from each other, a two-part substantially horizontal lever normally at rest between each frame and saidvrocking levers and operatively connected at one end thereof to said frame and separate from said rocking levers at the other end thereof but callable by said indicating mecha-' nism to latch onto at said other end either of said rocking lovers to cause longitudinal sliding movement of said horizontal lever to positively shift said harness frame when said rocking levers move away from each other, a cam element at said one end operatively connected to said frame and having surfaces to substantially form a trapezoid with its base extending beyond the ends of the trapezoid, a lever pivotally mounted at said other end and having a pair of hooks and hook parts normally out of engagement but engageable with said rocking levers and cooperating with each other to establish a locked latching relationship with said rocking levers when engaged to the latter, and giveway control means for said horizontal lever interposed between the latter and said indicating mechanism and selected thereby to effect rocking of said rotatable lever just before said rocking levers effect shifting of said frame when said rocking levers 7 move away from each other,

20. In a selective shedding mechanism for a loom having a plurality of independently shiftable harness frames selectable to move from a high to a low position and vice versa in which the frames are capable of remaining for any selected number of beats of the loom and an indicating mechanism, a pair of rockable actuators normally having idle movements toward and away from each other in opposite directions but capable to effect shifting of said frames, the actuators being effective upon selection of said frames to cause said shifting when moving away from each other and being ineffective to cause said shifting when moving toward each other, a sliding cam member normally idle and operatively connected to each harness frame and capable of being moved by said actuators to one of two longitudinal positions to maintain said harness frame raised when in one of said positions for any number of beats of the loom and lowered when in the other position for any number of beats of the loom, pin and walled stand means mounting the cam member for longitudinal sliding movement from one of said two positions to the other position thereof and vice versa, a substantially horizontal locking hook lever pivotally connected to each cam member rotatable and slidable therewith and callable by said indicating mechanism to rotate from one angular position to another or to remain idle in either of said angular positions while said sliding member is in either of its said two positions, said lever having a pair of hooks for temporary locking relationship with said actuators, one hook for each actuator, and control means selected by said indicating mechanism to cause rotation of said lever to one or another of said angular positions to place one of said hooks in position for engagement and temporary locking with its corresponding actuator and the other hook in a position unable to be engaged by its actuator or to maintain said lever idle in the angular position to Which it has been previously rotated by said control means depending upon the relativity of said indicating mechanism.

21. In a selective shedding mechanism for a loom having a plurality of independently shiftable harness frames from a high position to a low position and vice versa, a pair of oppositely reciprocating actuators moving toward and away from each other, latching means for each of said actuators, a cam member operatively connected to each harness frame, means mounting the cam members for longitudinal sliding movement, a lever pivotally connected to each cam member, a pair of hooks on each lever, one for engagement with one of said latching means and the other for engagement with the other latching means, pattern controlled means to eifect rocking of the levers when said actuators are nearest each other to cause said hooks to be actuated by one or the other of said actuators to cause longitudinal sliding movement of said cam members to shift said frames to said high and low positions, locking means on said lever movable to a locking position with respect to said latching means when said levers are rocked and moved longitudinally, said locking means being efiective to hold said frames stationary between their high and low positions in the event the loom is stopped, and unlocking means effective to move said locking means to unlocking position during the end of the movement of said actuators away from each other.

22. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 21 wherein said locking means are a pair of locking fingers for each of said levers, each finger being pivotally mounted on opposite ends of each lever, and being made with a hook part associating with one of said hooks to form a downwardly facing open pocket to receive its corresponding latching means when said lever is rocked, said each finger having a curved under surface for engagement with said unlocking means. i I

23. The shedding mechanism set forth in claim 21 wherein said unlocking means are a pair of longitudinally spaced stationary pins extending laterally below said fingers, one of said pins being engageable by said fingers on one of'said ends of said levers and the other pin being engageable by said fingers on the opposite end of said one of said ends.

24. In combination, a loom having independently vertically shiftable harness frames, a selective cam shedding mechanism for each harness frame callable at will to effect and prevent shifting of said frames as the case may be, a pair of actuator means for operation of each selective cam ineffective to move the latter unless called for movement, pattern mechanism to determine for any number of beats of the loom which cam of a pair of actuator cams shall prevent or cause operation of the corresponding selective cam, and driving means including a jack shaft common to, the actuator cams and pattern mechanism to operate the latter in timed relationship with the loom.

25. In a cam shedding mechanism unit for a loom having a drive therefor and operating with a pattern mechanism and shiftable harness frames, said unit including a plurality of constantly rotating means positively connected to a plurality of pairs of actuating means to actuate the latter, normally idle, selectable hook means for cooperation with said actuating means when so selected, a system of control means including a giveway mechanism operatively connected to said selectable hook means and controlled by said pattern mechanism, slidable cam means having a plurality of surfaces operatively connected selectively to said selectable hook means, pump means under control of said actuating means to lubricate certain parts of said unit, a casing containing a lubricant for said pump and forming part of the unit to enclose the greater part of all of said means therein and said pump in said lubricant, and a plurality of means extending from said unit for operative connection respectively to said pattern mechanism, said harness frames and said loom drive.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,592,820 Moessinger Apr. 15, 1952 2,841,184 Penman July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,412 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1951 

